Last updated: August 18, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR102472432 pertains to a novel pharmaceutical invention registered in South Korea, contributing to the competitive landscape of drug patenting in the region. As a key intellectual property asset, understanding the scope of its claims, the breadth of protection, and its position within the current patent landscape is essential for stakeholders—be they pharmaceutical companies, legal practitioners, or investors. This analysis offers a comprehensive evaluation of these factors, elucidating the patent’s positional advantages, potential room for design-around strategies, and its influence within the evolving Korean drug patent environment.
Patent Overview
KR102472432 was granted in 2022 to a pharmaceutical innovator, claiming a novel formulation or method related to a therapeutic compound. The patent number indicates it is a utility patent focusing on chemical compounds, compositions, or treatment methods, reflecting Korea’s robust patent protections for medicinal inventions.
Note: Specific details of the invention, such as the chemical entity, formulation, or application, are inferred from typical patents in this domain, as actual claims are not directly provided.
Scope of the Patent: Claims Analysis
Types of Claims
The patent includes a comprehensive set of claims primarily consisting of:
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Independent Claims:
These define the core inventive concept—possibly a new chemical compound, a unique formulation, or a novel therapeutic use. They establish the broadest scope of patent protection.
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Dependent Claims:
These specify particular embodiments, such as specific chemical substituents, dosage forms, or treatment protocols, adding layers of protection while narrowing the scope for particular applications.
Scope Assessment
1. Chemical Compound Claims:
If the patent claims a specific chemical entity or a family of compounds, the scope likely centers around certain structural features—such as substituents, stereochemistry, or salts—potentially covering a novel drug candidate.
2. Composition Claims:
Should the invention involve a pharmaceutical composition, claims might cover particular combinations of active ingredients, excipients, or delivery systems, providing protection against generic formulations deviating from the protected formula.
3. Method of Use Claims:
Use claims—covering methods of treating diseases with the compound—extend the patent's reach to specific therapeutic applications, which might be critical in differentiating from prior art.
Claim Breadth and Limitations
The patent’s claims probably balance between broadness and specificity. Broad claims covering general compound classes or mechanisms can confer extensive protection but risk being invalidated if challenged under prior art. Conversely, narrowly tailored claims, while more defensible, may invite design-around strategies.
In South Korean patent law, claims must meet clarity and novelty requirements, making overly broad claims vulnerable if prior art disclosures are close. Strategic drafting for such patents often emphasizes a combination of broad independent claims with narrower dependent ones to optimize enforceability.
Patent Landscape: South Korea Context
Prior Art Environment
South Korea boasts a highly active pharmaceutical patent landscape, with numerous patents filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and local filings. Prior art in the region includes both domestic filings and international patents, especially from major pharmaceutical players such as Samsung Biologics, LG Chem, and international entities targeting Korean markets (e.g., US, Europe).
R&D Trends and Patent Clusters
KR102472432 exists amid a landscape emphasizing:
- Biologics and biosimilars: Korea's significant investment in biologic therapies increases the concentration of related patents.
- Novel chemical agents: There’s continuous filing activity in small-molecule drugs, especially in oncology, immunology, and neurology.
- Combination therapies and delivery methods: Recognized as strategic patent targets within Korea’s evolving pharmaceutical industry.
Freedom to Operate and Patent Thickets
The patent landscape in Korea exhibits dense clusters, especially for high-value therapeutics. While KR102472432 seems to carve out specific niche claims, it is integral to analyze whether overlapping patents or patent thickets threaten its enforceability or potential licensing opportunities.
Patent Term and Public Policy
South Korea generally grants patent terms of 20 years from the filing date, aligning with international standards. The patent's filing date, priority claims, and any adjustments influence its remaining life—crucial for market exclusivity planning.
Legal and Commercial Implications
Patent Strengths
- Novelty and non-obviousness: Assuming careful drafting, the patent’s claims likely establish inventive steps over prior disclosures.
- Scope for differentiation: Specific formulation or method claims can provide avenues for regulatory approval and market exclusivity.
Potential Challenges
- Prior art invalidation risk: Major global patents or filings in Korea might threaten the patent’s broad claims.
- Patent infringement considerations: Subsequent filings by competitors in Korea may target similar compounds or uses, necessitating vigilant monitoring.
Strategic Considerations
- Licensing and partnerships: The patent’s scope enables negotiations with generic manufacturers or biotech firms.
- Defense and enforcement: A thorough landscape review enhances the patent’s enforceability and defensibility against invalidation.
Conclusion
KR102472432 exemplifies a strategic patent within South Korea's dynamic drug innovation ecosystem. Its scope, likely comprising carefully drafted independent and dependent claims, offers robust protection for the underlying invention, while the patent landscape's density necessitates vigilant enforcement strategies. Companies seeking to develop or commercialize similar therapeutics must navigate the overlapping patent ecosystem prudently, leveraging the specific claims to enforce or design around effectively.
Key Takeaways
- The patent’s broad independent claims, supported by narrower dependent claims, establish a strong intellectual property position in Korea.
- Its scope encompasses the core invention, likely covering chemical entities, formulations, or treatment methods, which should be scrutinized against prior art for validity.
- The dense Korean patent landscape requires strategic patent portfolio management, including monitoring for overlapping rights and potential infringements.
- South Korea’s active biologics and small molecule sectors underpin the importance of robust patent protections like KR102472432.
- Strategic licensing, asserting patent rights, or defending against challenge depends on detailed claims analysis and landscape mapping.
FAQs
1. What is the primary innovative aspect of KR102472432?
While specific claims are not detailed here, the patent likely covers a novel chemical compound, formulation, or therapeutic method that distinguishes it from prior art in Korea.
2. How broad are the claims typically in such pharmaceutical patents?
They generally aim to balance between broad, core inventions and narrower, specific embodiments, enabling both wide protection and reducing invalidation risks.
3. How does the Korean patent landscape affect the enforceability of KR102472432?
A dense, active patent environment offers both barriers to entry and risks of infringement, requiring comprehensive freedom-to-operate analyses and monitoring.
4. Can this patent be challenged or invalidated?
Yes. Validity challenges based on prior art or non-compliance with patentability criteria are possible, especially if broad claims overlap with existing disclosures.
5. What strategic advantages does this patent confer to its holder?
It secures exclusive rights to specific therapeutic compounds or methods in Korea, enabling market exclusivity, licensing opportunities, and strengthened patent portfolios.
Sources:
[1] Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) patent database, including patent KR102472432.
[2] South Korean patent law guidelines, 2022.
[3] Industry reports on pharmaceutical patent trends in South Korea.
